Kelly Applauds Full Passage of His Bipartisan END FENTANYL Act to Help Customs and Border Protection Stop Drug Smuggling
This week, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly’s bipartisan legislation, the Eradicating Narcotic Drugs and Formulating Effective New Tools to Address National Yearly Losses of Life (END FENTANYL) Act, passed the House of Representatives. The legislation had previously passed the Senate and now heads to the president’s desk to be signed into law. The END FENTANYL Act will require the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to update its policies at least once every three years to ensure operational field manuals, including their drug interdiction guidance, are up to date.
This legislation is co-sponsored by Senators Rick Scott (R-FL), Mike Braun (R-IN), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV). Representatives Michael Guest (R-MS-3) and David Trone (D-MD-6) led the charge in the House.
“As a border senator, I know firsthand how illicit fentanyl trafficking harms Arizona families,” said Kelly. “This bill that’s now headed to the President’s desk will allow CBP officers to better tackle the crisis, preventing criminals from trafficking these deadly drugs through our ports and combating human smuggling activity.”
“For too long, the fentanyl crisis has plagued our communities and caused crushing heartbreak to those who lose loved ones to these dangerous drugs,” said Scott. “As fentanyl continues to flow illegally into the U.S. over the southern border and kills tens of thousands of our citizens, we must do more to support our brave CBP agents, and all who are on the front lines of this battle to ensure they have every tool needed to keep these dangerous drugs out of our communities. Passage of the END FENTANYL Act is a big win in our fight against the lethal opioid epidemic, but it is not the end. I am thankful for my colleagues in the House and Senate voting for its passage, and I urge the President to quickly sign it into law.”
“The fentanyl crisis is ripping Hoosier families apart,” said Braun. “The Mexican drug cartels are pushing this poison onto our streets through our southern border, and the END FENTANYL Act passing the House is a big step for fighting this crisis.”
“When I visited the southern border earlier this year, I saw firsthand how law enforcement is working hard every day to stop the flow of fentanyl and deadly drugs into our country,” said Rosen. “Our bipartisan legislation will support law enforcement’s efforts by giving them the additional tools and training necessary to prevent fentanyl smuggling and help save lives. Far too many communities across Nevada have been impacted by the fentanyl crisis, and I’m glad to see our bipartisan END FENTANYL Act is now headed to the president’s desk to become law.”
“I am glad to see this commonsense, bipartisan bill headed to the President’s desk to be signed into law,” said Hassan. “This will help law enforcement stay ahead of the changing tactics of drug traffickers and better stem the flow of fentanyl across the border and on to New Hampshire, where it has devastated communities and families. This bill is an important step forward and I will continue working to combat the fentanyl crisis.”
“It’s time we take a hard stance against the smuggling of this deadly drug,” said Guest. With this legislation, we’re fighting to protect the American people from letting drug smugglers bring fentanyl into our communities. I am proud that the END FENTANYL Act is on its way to becoming law.”
The END FENTANYL Act:
- Requires the Commissioner of CBP to review and update the Office of Field Operations’ policies and handbooks, as necessary and at least once every three years in order to respond to illegal activity, such as the trafficking of drugs and humans, along the border.
- Requires the Commissioner of CBP to submit a report to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives that summarizes the policy and manual changes every three years.
